Education for Teaching Aides

Teacher aides work with students on behalf of a lead teacher, and most have some formal training. Continue reading to learn about the responsibilities and academic requirements of this career to determine if it's a good fit for you.

Is Being a Teaching Aide for Me?

Career Details

Teacher aides, also called teaching assistants or TAs, provide in-class and administrative support for classroom teachers. Most TAs only work on a part-time basis. These professionals traditionally assist in kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school classrooms. However, they may also work in private daycare centers, early learning programs and organizations that have after-school programs for children, like the YMCA.

As a TA, you might supervise lunch rooms, monitor hallways or accompany classes on field trips. Other responsibilities for teaching assistants include reviewing lesson plans, grading papers or working with individual students. In some cases, you might work with young children who haven't started school yet or who show signs of developmental delays and other disabilities. You could also work with special needs students.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that teacher's aides must be able to pass a background check, communicate effectively, resolve classroom disputes and follow teacher's instructions (www.bls.gov). While some TAs are trained on the job after earning a high school diploma, employers may prefer teaching assistants who have completed a postsecondary program.

Employment Information

The BLS projects that between 2012 and 2022, the number of employed teaching assistants will increase by nine percent. As of May 2013, TAs made a median annual salary of $24,000.

How Can I Become a Teacher's Aide?

Education

The minimum requirement for TAs is a high school diploma, but completing a 1-year certificate program or a 2-year associate's degree program can lead to additional career opportunities. Courses in these programs cover how school systems work, how to manage a classroom and the uses of modern technology in an educational setting. To earn a teaching assistant associate's degree, you may need to observe or work with a teacher in a classroom.

Career Options

You can also work as an aide if you're an aspiring teacher who holds a bachelor's degree in elementary or secondary education. Conversely, employed TAs who want to become licensed teachers can often transfer their academic credits into a bachelor's program in education.

Related Articles for Education for Teaching Aides

The Education Techie reviews tech tools that can help students and teachers. This week, the Techie is taking a look at some education technology blogs. Today, we'll talk about ''Digital Writing, Digital Teaching''.

Those interested in becoming a teacher in Vermont will need to become officially certified to teach. To find out more about teaching in the Green Mountain State, including the education and exam requirements, read on.

Learning how to read and think critically is an essential element of education at all levels, particularly in higher education. But with the rise of visual media, it may be time to consider teaching students how to watch critically as well.

Related Videos

Teaching is widely regarded to be among the most important and rewarding professions. Teachers in elementary and secondary schools throughout the nation play an invaluable role in young people's academic, social and emotional development. Learn more about whether earning a Teaching degree might be right for you.

Teaching is among the most important and rewarding professions. Preschool teachers can be particularly instrumental in the formative years of a child's development. While these programs were once limited, increased funding for Head Start and other preK initiatives has employment opportunities in this area of education on the rise. Those interested in becoming educators can select from countless teacher prep programs available throughout the country.

The schools in the listing below are not free and may include sponsored
content but are popular choices among our users. Tuition and costs will vary across programs and locations.
Be sure to always request tuition information before starting a program.

Popular programs at Penn Foster High School:

Online Programs Available

Find Schools, Degrees or Programs

Choose your subject:

Choose your degree level:

Choose your location:

Online schools only

Campus near
me

Or

No preference

Recommended Schools

The schools in the listing below are not free and may include sponsored content but are
popular
choices among our users. Tuition and costs will vary across programs and locations. Be sure to always request tuition information
before
starting a program.